[11/25/13 - 08:19 AM]Local Lore Transforms Into Real Evil in Season 2 of Destination America's Hit Series "Monsters & Mysteries in America"The series returns with the first of 12 new episodes Sunday, December 15 at 10:00/9:00c on the cable channel.

[via press release from Destination America]

LOCAL LORE TRANSFORMS INTO REAL EVIL IN SEASON 2 OF DESTINATION AMERICA'S HIT SERIES "MONSTERS & MYSTERIES IN AMERICA"

(Silver Spring, MD) - In communities across America, local legends passed down generation to generation tell of monsters hunting nearby woodlands, ancient spirits walking amongst the living, and alien creatures paying earth a visit. But these aren't just your scout master's campfire tales. According to a recent poll conducted by Destination America and Nielsen, more than half of Americans claim to have experienced paranormal activity, whether it's seeing, hearing, or feeling something they couldn't explain.* Their stories are told in season two of Destination America's hit series MONSTERS & MYSTERIES IN AMERICA, premiering Sunday, December 15 at 10/9c. In 12 all-new episodes, hear directly from everyday people who have had close encounters with real-life folktale fiends. With America's dense forests, desert grasslands, and hundreds of miles of uninhabitable wilderness, no country could house - or hide - so many mysterious creatures.

"Road trip through small-town America and odds are that patrons at local diners will be brimming with tales of mysterious creatures and unexplainable phenomena from the well-known chupacabra and bigfoot to the more obscure Michigan dogman and Missouri momo," said Marc Etkind, general manager of Destination America. "MONSTERS & MYSTERIES IN AMERICA takes the cross-country trip for you, emerging with the most cryptic, frightening, and brow-furrowing stories to hail from all four corners of the U.S., and the heartland in between."

Each episode of MONSTERS & MYSTERIES IN AMERICA focuses on a different American region and features stories of people who claim to have encountered creatures of local legend. The first two episodes of the season include:

The Lone Star state harbors pockets of land where history, mystery, and terror prevail. Legendary monsters lurk in dark corners while the walking dead remain stuck fighting a battle from the Civil War.

· Lake Worth monster (Lake Worth & Mount Nebo, TX) - In the summer of 1969, the Lake Worth community was stalked by an aggressive hybrid monster that was half man, half goat. Though many thought the creature had disappeared, two decades later they were proven wrong as the encounters continued.

· Chupacabra (Cuero, TX) - Since 2007, the small community of Cuero has become the notorious home of a terrifying mythical creature with a vicious reputation. Now Phylis Canion believes she has the proof that this monster is real.

· Zombie soldiers (Brownsville, TX) - On a road trip through Brownsville, a young couple - Barb and Cameron Dexter - experienced the walking dead first hand when they unknowingly parked their truck on a historic battleground.

Much like a mainland Bermuda Triangle, Massachusetts' Bridgewater Triangle is shrouded with inexplicable phenomena like evil creatures and UFO sightings.

· Pukwudgie (Hockomock Swamp, MA) - The Bridgewater Triangle is home to many legends including one about a tiny troll that lives in the Hockomock Swamp and lures its victims with a friendly gesture. Local Bill Russo's encounter with the creature made him realize the Pukwudgie could have led him to his death.

· Alien brood (Bridgewater, MA) - Twin sisters Audrey and Debbie Hewins were plagued by alien visitors since childhood. As adults, these abductions took a terrifying turn when the twins realized they were being used as the aliens' reproductive slaves.

· Dover demon (Dover, MA) - For Dover high school students Abby Brabham, John Baxter, and Bill Bartlett, two nights in the spring of 1977 were ones they will never forget. Their encounter with a monkey-like demon threw the small town of Dover into a frenzy of fear.

Other episodes will feature mysteries such as the momo (Missouri), wendigo (Minnesota), evil gnomes and hell hounds (California), pascagoula (Mississippi), and skunk ape (Florida), among others.

MONSTERS & MYSTERIES IN AMERICA is produced by M2 Pictures for Destination America. For M2 Pictures, Mike Sinclair is executive producer and Ron Bowman is co-executive producer. For Destination America, Fay Yu is executive producer, Sara Kozak is SVP of production, Marc Etkind is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, Military Channel, and Destination America.

About Destination America

Destination America is the only network to celebrate the people, places, and stories of the United States. The inclusive network targeting Adults 25-54 is available in nearly 60 million homes, emblazoning television screens with the grit and tenacity, honesty and work ethic, humor and adventurousness that characterize our nation. Destination America features travel, food, adventure, home, and natural history, with original series like BBQ Pitmasters; A Haunting; Mountain Monsters; Buying Alaska; Buying the Bayou; and Railroad Alaska. For more information, please visit DestinationAmerica.com, facebook.com/DestinationAmerica, or twitter.com/DestAmerica. Destination America is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 218 countries and territories.